France has detained a tanker belonging to Russia's shadow fleet in the Atlantic Ocean
This was announced by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The operation to detain the tanker was carried out in the Atlantic Ocean with the support of partners, including the United Kingdom.
“It is unacceptable for vessels to circumvent international sanctions, violate maritime law and finance the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for over four years,” Macron emphasised.
He added that these vessels do not comply with “the most basic rules of maritime navigation”, and therefore also pose a threat to the environment and everyone’s safety.
According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, the tanker Tagor is subject to sanctions imposed by the US, the EU, Switzerland, the UK and Ukraine. The vessel transports petroleum products from the Russian ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga in the Baltic Sea to third countries.
The vessel is also affiliated with the sanctioned company Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE) — one of the leading operators of the shadow fleet in 2022–2023.
This is not the first time France has intercepted tankers from the Russian shadow fleet. On 30 March, the country’s naval forces detained the tanker Deyna, which was sailing from Murmansk under the Mozambican flag. However, a month later, the French authorities allowed the tanker to be released.
Russia’s shadow fleet: what is known about it
In early December 2022, the G7 members, as well as Australia and the EU, imposed price caps on Russian oil, setting a maximum price of $60 per barrel. From 5 February 2023, these countries introduced a price cap on Russian petroleum products: $100 for diesel and $45 for various lubricants.
To circumvent the oil sanctions, Russia began to build up a shadow fleet. This is a fleet of old tankers that switch off their transponders so as not to be detected by tracking systems. These tankers are operated mainly by the Russian state-owned company ‘Sukhoflot’.
According to The Guardian’s estimates from September 2023, Russia’s shadow fleet comprises approximately 600 vessels, which account for 70% of Russian oil exports and roughly 10% of the global ‘wet cargo’ fleet. With its help, the Russian Federation transports nearly 1.7 million barrels of oil per day, generating substantial profits for the Kremlin.
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